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Fruit and vegetable providers depend on supermarkets but lack negotiating power and face significant costs to supply the industry giants, an inquiry has heard.
Producers are highly reliant on Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi for vegetable sales, the industry’s peak body told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission probe on Nov. 8.
About 98 percent of the vegetables grown in Australia are consumed locally, AUSVEG public affairs manager Lucy Gregg said.
Fruit Growers Victoria’s Michael Crisera said there were similarly low export rates for apples and pears, although stonefruit, citrus, and grapes had some overseas avenues.
But orchardist Peter Hall said fragile export markets lacked the certainty of a supply arrangement with national supermarkets, which providers were reluctant to endanger….
